Serena Williams’ French Open Victory for Her 20th Grand Slam Singles Title Up 21% From Last Year’s Women’s Final

Home of Belmont Stakes, New York Posts Its Best Belmont Overnight Since 2004

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 7, 2015 – NBC Sports’ history-making “Championship Saturday,” featuring American Pharoah’s victory in the 147th Belmont Stakes to win the first Triple Crown in 37 years, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, and Serena Williams winning her 20th Grand Slam singles title with her French Open victory, registered ratings milestones, according to metered market data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

BELMONT STAKES

“The 37-year wait is over. American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!” – Larry Collmus’ race call on NBC

On Saturday afternoon, American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 with a 5½-length victory in the Belmont Stakes. The race portion of the telecast (6:15-7:15 p.m. ET) registered a 12.3/27 metered market rating – the third-best overnight for a Belmont Stakes on record (People Meter history dates to 1988).

NBC has posted back-to-back 12+ overnight ratings for the Triple Crown’s third jewel (12.9 for California Chrome’s attempt in ’14) – marking the first time in People Meter history that successive Belmont Stakes have topped a 12 overnight.

The New York market, the home of the Belmont Stakes, registered a 16.6 rating/36 share – up 5% from last year’s Belmont (15.8/37) and ranking as the second-highest Belmont in the market behind only Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown attempt in 2004 (20.5/38). (Belmont Stakes top 10 markets below)

NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 2

Last night’s Chicago Blackhawks-Tampa Bay Lightning contest on NBC, in which the Lightning won 4-3 to even the series at one game apiece, delivered a 4.8 metered market rating, making it NBC’s best Stanley Cup Final Game 2 overnight ever and best on broadcast television on record. It was up 5% vs. last year’s double overtime Game 2 (4.56, NYR-L.A.).

The game (7:15-10:15 p.m. ET), which immediately followed NBC Sports’ coverage of the Belmont Stakes, posted a 22.6 rating in Chicago and a 15.1 in Tampa. NBC was the No. 1 network in each market during the game.

Rounding out the Top 5 markets were Buffalo (8.6), Milwaukee (6.7) and Ft. Myers (6.5).